When "Partners Arrive"...

[marybluesky]

Some I Ching lines refer to the idea of partners (friends) arriving; for instance:

39.5: "Wilhelm/Baynes: In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come."
40.4: "Wilhelm/Baynes: Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, and him you can trust."
41.3: "Wilhelm/Baynes: When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion. "

In all the lines the companion brings about some sort of release.
That said, I've received these lines in different situations (about relationships as I remember) but never a new partner, friend, helper or anything helpful appeared in my life.
Some may say the companion is inner wisdom etc, but it doesn't convince me, because: 1) these lines concretely refer to companions, help, trust, loneliness; not hidden lords etc, and 2) there should be at least a "newcomer" in any form- if we don't insist on a friend/partner/humans- who comes/is found.

What do you think? Receiving these answers may be soothing, but you won't believe them after a while if there's no outcome.

 

[danceofthegods]

Gosh. That's a good question. It's making me think back to my casts of these lines if people actually appeared to help or whatnot. I think it could refer to not only new people but old people (friends, acquaintances) and also random passers by who help like guardian angels passing by just touching you to push you 3 degrees to the right or left, to get you on your path, but you don't really take them into account bc it's so touch and go, but it did the trick. I know that's kind of a lukewarm answer.

The one that really stumps me and give me goosebumps is hex 55 meeting the lord in the alley, or meeting the hidden lord. that sounds like voldemort, or a medieval lord in a cobblestone street, or a shaolin master. Kinda cool but kind scary! Like count dracula! eek.

 

[Freedda]

The word for 'companion' used on 39.5, peng2, might mean (singular or plural): friends, companions, associates, colleagues, comrades, partners, peers, equals, allies, alliances ....

I would suggest that it might not always be a premonition or vision about what is or should be happening - e.g. a friend will come help me and make things better (or, the man/woman of my dreams is about to appear!) - but it could be advice to seek out help, assistance, or a different point of view from others - or maybe to proceed as if you had their support (which could very much change your attitude in how you approach a situation). It might also be as simple as, 'you should ask for help.'

Though it's not quite the same, it reminds me of invoking one's ancestors for their blessing or assistance, which was done in ancient China and Rome (and likely other places). There is also the very related idea found in many cultures and religions of asking the gods, devas, angels, spirits, and even demons for their help.

I think of 41.3 as being a bit different It's not so much about friends/companions coming and going, but they are used as an example/metaphor about the need for balance in all things - to decrease or increase as needed : companions, friends, money, attitudes, love, family, wine, food, work, consulting the Yi .......

Best, d.

 

[danceofthegods]

The people also don't have to be within touching distance. They might be a book you read, a youtube video like a self help teacher or something, or a poem or a song, or a letter, email or text from someone far away, or even a stranger to you like the person who wrote the hypothetical book that helped you. All these things are created by a person but they don't have to be someone you personally know or have spoken to or had lunch with. Just a thought.

 

[moss elk]

What do you think?

I did receive 39.5 literally once,
that day when I was down in the dumps,
and the friend phoned out of the blue.

 

[my_key]

Hi Marybluesky

The nature of the 'friend' is, I think, very much how danceofthegods indicates above .

A true friend is someone that can be relied upon for support, assistance, advice, tough love or inspiration, and much more besides. I have, in the past, got this 'friendship' from things like my dog, an internet meme, 'bad news' from a health professional etc , The story of Robert the Bruce and the spider springs to mind too.

The nature of the friend could also depend on the general context of the hexagram.

39.5: "Wilhelm/Baynes: In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come."

Here in 39 we are asked to address the difficulties that surround us. At line 5 we are in the most serious of situations, encouraged not to give in. The Noble One would advocate in a context of 39 to turn around on himself to better align to a new way. Linked to 15 maybe the friend here will help bring balance and a new flexibility to the querant.

40.4: "Wilhelm/Baynes: Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, and him you can trust."

So difficulties are starting to be seen for what they are, we are now beginning to loosen up a bit. The Noble One would advocate in a context of 40 that we be more forgiving, more broad minded - not hold onto past grievances towards ourselves and others. At line 4 we are still finding out how to stand up for ourselves in this new position, to accept these new beliefs / things going on. Linked to 7 this is a time of reflection, rest and recuperation - putting things in order. The offering made by the companion, however it may be (a smack around the head with a baseball bat or a subtle whisper and any position in between), will in some way validate this new perspective.

41.3: "Wilhelm/Baynes: When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion. "

At 41.3 we now trust what the external influences have had to say or show. We move into our inner world. At 41 - It's make or break time; time to be true to ourself - time to show to ourself that we have a new direction to go in. The Noble One advocates inner work on our rampant emotions that have been stealing the show. 41 is linked to 26 so it's time to unfold what we have been incubating. Displays of will showing committment will jettison the old ways and to keep the ball rolling there will be internal companions that step aboard. Here are the internal conversations that say we can't do it, I don't want to go to the gym today - too tired, too far to travel, not enough time, not good enough etc. Then when we have been for a while ( journeying alone) we may be joined by a new friend - I'm feeling better, looking better, feeling more confident etc. The bicycle has transformed into a tandem......Now I really want to keep going!! We finally engage with our dearest friend of all called ownership.

Receiving these answers may be soothing, but you won't believe them after a while if there's no outcome.

Maybe, redefining what is or how we perceive a friend will help here, as per danceofthegods . A friend in a 39 context will appear different to that in a 40 context and in a 41 context. The friend may well be a physical manifestation, a metaphysical manifestation or a spiritual manifestation bringing connection with our inner wisdom.
Perhaps, with respect to what to expect as an outcome, maybe recognising that a 'friend' has stepped into our world (external or internal) is the best outcome we can hope for. Outcomes beyond recognising the friend's arrival are very much dependant on how we interact and relate to them. Any subsequent outcome can then be recognised in two ways: favourable outcome and unfavourable outcome. Sometimes the unfavourable outcome can be overlooked because we so want our friend to bring with him / her / them / it a favourable outcome and therefore what was an outcome, but one we didn't see or like, can easily dissolve without notice.

Good Luck

 

[Liselle]

Isn't it interesting that those are all in a row - 39, 40, 41?

I had a 39.5 reading not long ago that I think may have gone like this (I can't be completely sure since I don't have access to the other person's mind):

I'd called an office to make an appointment, but then I bogged down the conversation with my frustration about the issue in question. The person who answers the phone and makes appointments can't help with that, of course. Finally she suggested an appointment time and I took it and we hung up.

Afterwards I felt terrible and asked Yi, "So now she probably hates me??" and Yi said 39.5 to 15, "Greatly limping; Partners come" (Hilary's translation). I think it probably meant that at some point I got hold of myself and then very quickly took the appointment and ended the call (my earlier failure to do so might be recognizable as the "limping"). It might also have meant - I can't know - that she herself had "partners" who helped: maybe she's used to this kind of nonsense and lets it roll off her back? Maybe a co-worker gave her some sympathy? Maybe she has enough empathy not to hate people for such behavior?

 

[my_key]

Isn't it interesting that those are all in a row - 39, 40, 41?

Yes I think it is too and that the lines sequentially go from 5 to 4 to 3.

39.5 - When we are limping the helper we will most easily identify with is assistance from outside us. We really need that crutch!
40.4 - When situations are less tense for us , we can relax more and the helper will arise from our own relative calm. We contribute in some way to the helper emerging.
41.3 - We are topping our inner world, more sure of our capabilities so the helper comes from something we offer to the situation. Something we give away is replaced by a different way of seeing things.

Perhaps in your example the receptionist was able to be your crutch and maybe because she was 'used to this kind of nonsense' was better positioned to call upon her own 41.3 helper. Perhaps, if she was less tense about it all, and you'd realised how you were not helping things, somewhere in the middle you both made a silent contract to 40.4.

Good Luck